How to support an oversailing brick on edge ?

[670706]

My problem involves trying to support oversailing bricks on edge on existing structures which are falling off.I need help on how one can support facade bricks just attached to concrete beams & concrete walls by mortar only without altering the facades.No angle iron was used support bricks on edge and on the underside of concrete beams only mortar was used to hold up the bricks(face bricks).

Part of my solutions were to:
1) just remove the bricks , plaster and paint the concrete .
2) Use steel beams to support the face-bricks under the beams.
Both solutions would alter the facades a great deal and the first solution although easy can hardly be called an Engineering solution.

Thanking you in advance for your responses.

yours faitfully

Aubrey

 

[RiBeneke]

Please describe the problem some more ..

Are the bricks in a single course (row) of vertical bricks (a soldier course) ?
Or do they cover a greater height in any one panel ?

Are the bricks along the top edge or bottom edge of openings ?

Questions aside, I don't have a clever solution to your problem.

 

[Ron]

If you have more than one course to support, you might consider pinning the first course to the concrete beam with stainless steel fasteners (1/4-inch diameter is usually adequate). This course will then become your ledge for succeeding courses. If you are having a bond problem with the brick adhering to the concrete beams (I'm assuming it is not adequately tied with brick ties and that you must supplement the bond), you may use an expanding foam adhesive to fill the space behind the brick and provide adhesion of the brick to the concrete. I have used this technique in building restoration to replace rusted brick ties. I would suggest a "dollop" of foam about every couple of square feet to get appropriate adhesion.

 

[RiBeneke]

Ron

The expanding foam adhesive (polyurethane ?) solution is an interesting one. I have used it for bonding plywood to steel etc. How do you prevent the expanding forces that the foam generates as it cures from pushing the bricks off the concrete ? Temporary shoring ?

 

[Ron]

Rich...we did some testing on the pressures exerted during the injection of the foam. We did this by putting a plate on top of another plate, loading it to the weight of the bricks and injecting in the cavity between the plate just until the foam stopped moving laterally (no resistance there) and started to move vertically to push the "bricks" upward. This was just to gain an idea of how much pressure would be exerted.

Then considering the brick would be vertical and not exhibit back pressure from dead load, we considered our only source of resistance would be friction in the mortar/brick interface and bending of the wall from the lateral pressure of the foam. We then decided we only needed a few square inches of foam (about 20 square inches) to be equivalent to a brick tie, if spaced at about 1 "dollop" every 2 square feet. This was our starting point and then field adjustments could be made in test areas. I hope to do a follow-up on the project (renovation of an early 20th century hotel)and check the performance. It has been a bit over 2 years. I will post when I get the opportunity.

Ron

 

[RiBeneke]

Thanks for the info. I see that by using relatively small spots with expansion space between you kept the pressures small.

 

[PJ]

Try a company known as Helifix. You can get to them through the web site

http://www.conspec-rep.com.

Once there click Products, then click Helifix, then click the Helifix logo to go directly to their site. Helifix in Canada is 888-992-9989. Helifix offers lateral (tensile) support but no vertical (shear) support).

 

[PJ]

If vertical shear is needed visit

http://www.cintec.com

and look at the corbel anchor. This anchor is installed "thru" the brick and will replace typical angles which require extensive retrofit "removal & replace"

 

[670706]

Thank you very much for your helpful responses.I will be persuing the leads as you have given me and I will inform the forum of my findings.